Should We Follow The Ten Commandments Today?

Many people believe we should keep the Ten Commandments today Should we? What does the Bible Say?

I. The Ten Commandments were given to the nation of Israel

Deut. 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Deut. 9:9-10 [9]When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:

[10] And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

Deut. 5:2-3 [2] The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. [3] The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

This was a new law God had given It had not been given to their ancestors It was given only to the children of Israel

The command to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) was not required of man before Mt. Sinai

Neh. 9:13-14 [13] Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

[14] And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

It was not required of any other people – for it was given only to Israel Gentiles (non-Jews) were not required to keep the Law unless they became converts to the Jewish faith

“Even if the Old Covenant had not been taken away in Christ, it would not be required of non-Jews. It never was intended for them.”

Jeremiah prophesied that the Law was only temporary

Jer. 31:31-32 [31] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

[32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jeremiah spoke these words 900 years after the Law was given at Sinai and 600 years before Christ gave the New Law

The writer of Hebrews in the N. T The writer of Hebrews in the N.T. quotes this passage from Jeremiah and applies it to Christ Heb. 8:6-13

Heb. 8:12 [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (The write is speaking of the New Covenant, the Gospel Age.

Heb. 10:3 [3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (Speaking of the Old Law)

Differences in Old Law & New Law in Jer. 31 Written on tables of stone No final forgiveness of sins New Written on the heart Final forgiveness

The 10 Commandments were a part of the Old Law – they have not been required of people to keep since Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago

Col. 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross

II. What happened to the Old Law or Old Covenant?

Heb. 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away

Heb. 7:18-19 [18] For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. [19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Heb. 7:18-19 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. NASV

Heb. 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Heb. 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Gal. 3:24-25 [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Old Law was taken away when Jesus shed His blood on the cross

Heb. 9:15-17 [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. [17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

III. What was the purpose of the Old Law which was given to Israel at Mount Sinai?

Gal. 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The Seed is Christ (Gal. 3:16)

The Old Law – which contained the 10 Commandments – was given to keep Israel under control until Christ came

Since Christ came and fulfilled the Old Law – He has taken it out of the way

He has given us the New Law or New Testament or New Covenant We must go to this New Law – contained in the N.T. – to learn how God wants us to serve Him today!